Flash Education

[RebbelX]

Hey what do u guys/ and ladies think the best way to teach a class flash is. MY teacher just finaly bought FlashMX the educational version and ordered 2 visual books but that just wont do for 2 classes of 34 roudy teens.

So far im thinken about just picking tutuorials from this fine reference site and teaching them off those and showing them some of the examples in the movie section to get them started.

Any ideas from yall would be helpfull.
thnx
jon

[johnie]

How old is this class, age wise?

How long will the class last 30 days, less than 30 days?

Likewise what is the goal of the class?

Perhaps they should start off with a third party tool that supports AS like 3DFA, KM, Imperator, ECT (which is affordable) to learn the basic concepts and AS then move up to a trial of Flash to learn specifically how to use Flash itself- At least that is how I would handle it.

[RebbelX]

well its a bunch of Seniors in High School(16-18) theres only 60dayz left in school and we already have the FlashMX full program with 34 licenses.... which my teacher had to buy out of her own pocket because of budget cuts meaning i doubt she will be into purchasing any extra software.

[johnie]

She bought 34 Flash MX licenses out of her own pocket? You realize how much cash that is??

Anyhow if everyone has a full version of MX then have hook up her machine to a LCD projector or large screen TV and demonstrate techniques while the students follow along.

[RebbelX]

yeah it cost her 3grand cuz its an educational version (schools get discounts) and she has a nice projector i wuz thinken display some of the tutorials from here and were-here.com to the class over the projector and then show them tecniques...
(sadly i have to teach the class and the teacher how to use the darn thing lol i havnt used flash in like 1 and a half years. good thing i still know the basics)

[el-Ignoramus]

Hi there RebbelX

try to start with the basics, like why Macromedia flash, what's the difference between it and conventional web technologies, size, clarity, interactivity, then show them some samples that'll inspire them, then stick to the Macromedia lessons, but your style, and I might suggest a walk through for the tool bars and the buttons and menus.

this is how I do it with mys students, they normally pass the Macromedia certification exams with a percentage of 85% nice eh?

and if their goal is to certify themselves then there's no going around the old F1, read the help and actually memorize it, it's a lot of work to do, but it's the best way, and for books, I'd suggest the bible series, they are quite good wjhen it comes to starting from zero level.

ohh and if the course contains action script, then a small back ground on Java Sxcript will be very helpful too, as it'll be easier to demonstrate, and it's code will be more viewable and when they transfer to AS they'll love it's simplicity.


Hope that helped

[gecko2]

Did you say that the teacher has bought Flash MX to teach to a class or rowdy teens?

I assume that people have put their name forward to try and learn the concepts of flash because it would be far more productive if everyone actually wanting to learn it rather than being forced to learn it.

[RebbelX]

well the main reason she got flash wus for the what me and a few otehr people do in there were designing the school website and she wants some flash incorporated in it. But its a computer GFX class so she's going to add it to the curiculum. Im pretty sure the kids would like it cuz as they like to say u can move crap around in it someone already wants to make a car burn out...

[SpockBert]

can't believe kids get taught Flash in school...lucky buggers!

In my school the most fun thing i got taught was how to move this turtle thing.

FD 40 made it advance 40 pixels in the direction it was pointing.

RD 60 made it turn 60 degrees clockwise, exciting stuff eh?

I hated computers back then, its my life now...funny how things work out.

[RebbelX]

well u should see my school its huge and Intel sponsers us there right across the street they donated over 100 computers to the school. see this is the test website check out the campus pictures thats probly half the school there http://www.fcusd.k12.ca.us/fhsweb/test/
And this is an ROP program meaning that its supposedly suposed to help us get jobs after we graduate.

btw like your avatar spock that guyz crazy in that movie falling down or what ever its called lol blows up a construction yard with a bazooca

[SpockBert]

Originally posted by RebbelX
btw like your avatar spock that guyz crazy in that movie falling down or what ever its called lol blows up a construction yard with a bazooca

Ha ha...cheers mate

yeah, i love that film, in my eyes...theres no way his character is the bad guy!

"WHATS WRONG WITH THE STREET?......BOOOOOOOOOM"